New Rabbi Leads Pasadena Congregation Through First High Holy Days Since Fire Destroyed Temple

The Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center (PJTC) will gather for the High Holy Days this week and next under extraordinary circumstances: with a new senior rabbi and in a temporary home, at Caltech.

Rabbi Joshua Ratner, who joined PJTC in July, will lead the congregation through Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services at Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium after fire devastated the synagogue’s temple and center building in January.

“We’re excited to have everyone together for the High Holy Days,” said Rabbi Ratner. “This will be the largest gathering for prayer we’ve had since January. The synagogue may have been devastated, but our community remains strong.”

Rosh Hashanah services begin Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and continue Sept. 23 and 24. The Kol Nidre service will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 1, with Yom Kippur services on Oct. 2. The congregation’s Torah scrolls will be present during the services, transforming Beckman Auditorium into a sanctuary for prayer.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins the Ten Days of Repentance (the Days of Awe); Yom Kippur concludes the period with a day of fasting, prayer, and atonement.

In the months since the Eaton Fire, PJTC has been meeting weekly for Shabbat services at First United Methodist Church. Congregants said the holidays at Caltech mark an important step toward healing.

“We’ve come out of the fires more close-knit as a community,” said longtime member Mark Goodman. “These High Holy Days will be both solemn and uplifting as we look to the future together.”

Founded more than 100 years ago, PJTC has long been a hub for Jewish life in Pasadena. Its synagogue, designed by architect Edward Durell Stone, had stood as a landmark before the blaze.

Rabbi Ratner said leading PJTC through the High Holy Days in these circumstances is both daunting and inspiring.

“The Days of Awe are a time for renewal and reflection,” he said. “For us, they also represent resilience and hope after tremendous loss.”